Apparatus for aid in grading examinations



May 19, 1953 Filed Jan. 27,

L. w. SHRODE 2,639,167

I APPARAM FOR AID IN GRADING minnows 195 siesta-sum 2 I I llh.

INVENTOR,

LEROY W SHRooE,

JBrW

.ETTORNEY.

Patented May 19,1953

UNITED STATES PATENT' ICE APPARATUS'FOR AID INGRADIN G EXAMINATIONSLeroy W. Shro de, Vanderburg, -.In'd.

Application January 27, 1950, SerialNo. 140,919

1 Claim. ('01. 281-44) This invention relates to an apparatus forfacilitating the grading of examinations. ihe invention involves: thecombination in a structure whereby a number'of individual cards or uponwhich the recordof theexarnination has been made, may be placed sidebyside on a table "which-is'heldin an'ihclined position, wherebytheanswers to a common question maybe checked along lines horizontallydisposed across the-table, preferably in conjunction with a masteranswer tape or card for direct comparison as to "the 'cio'rrectness orincorrectness of the-answer.

The'inven'tion particularlyresides in the means in the combination ofstructural elements emle'ao'died in the table structure whereby theindividu'al cards or tapes maybe quickly applied, main- @,tained incorrect positions, and then released, not only'to insure accuracy in thegrading opera tion, but to reduce the time required for examination.

The structure as above indicated is produced in a'-very simple format a"relatively lowcost of production,and iseasily and readily operatedwith- "out employment'of tools,'-so'that no training or technicalexperience is required of the operator.

The invention will'be better understood in the "following description ofone particular form thereof as illustrated in the'accompanying drawings,in which Fig, l is a view infront elevation of a'struoture embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation;

Fig. 3 is a' view in vertical transverse section on the line 3--3 inFig. 2, and on an enlarged scale;

Fig.4 is a diagrammatic view in vertical sec- -tion through the table toillustrate the initial step of applying the individual examination tape;

Fig. "5 a view similar to that shown in Fig. 4, illustrating the secondstep in mounting the tape 'onthe table;

'Fig. 6 a view'similar to that shown in Fig. 4 illustrating the thirdstep;

Fig. 7 a further view similar to that of Fig. 4 illustrating theoperation preliminary to removing the tape from the table;

Fig. 8 a view in top plan of an individual tape;

and

Fig-'9 a view intop plan or'front elevation of a 'modifiedform of tapemounted on the table.

Referring to the drawings, in which like characters'oi referencesindicate like parts, a table generally'designated by the numeral H] isformed out'of any suitable material such as sheet metal to have a lengthsuitable to the number of examination tapes to-be checked atone time,for example, without limiting the invention thereto, a stable length ofapproximately forty-two inches will accommodate in the present form ofthe in- :ventionthirty-one of the examination tapes. A .suitable heightwould be around thirteen inches. -In other words the length is slightlyover three .times theheight. Theiront or upper sideofthe table [0 isplanar, and is provided with a lower flange 1 lturnediintegrally fromthe lowiertportlon rubber.

From the upper longitudinal edge portioniot the table I'll, there-isZturn'ed"rearwardly andlrelatively horizontally a flange I5, fr'om thenear portion of which there is a downturned ;leg 16. There are a pair Iof reenforcing imembe'rs -li1 antl l3 spaced apart one from theiother onthemntler sideof the table l0, and spacedlbelowEthe-underside of thetabletohave 'their upper endsrzsecured to the underside of the topflan'ge I15, and their lower ends secured'toitheilower flange M. EIhetable 10 is stiffened intermediateitstop and bottom portions byinsertinga membergsuch cars 41 strip of wood IQ between thetre'enforcingimiemhers ill and ltand' the back 0i the tiibleltl thisstri It being indirect contact with atheiunder face of the table :Ill:and :the forward or upper faces of the reenforcing members lliandrmnand secured thereto in any suitable mannerEsuch ra's by'thescrewsZll.

A rear leg 2! isiormed 'to-support theitable H1 in the inclined positionas. indicated m:r'ig.:a, whereby the angle-of inclinationof thattabletfll is preferably withinthe range .of from fittyito sixty degreesfrom the horizontal. I 'hefl'eg II in the present showing consists or 1aspringmire having the resilientfoot L22 herein TShIOWR aS in the form ofa rubberroller mounted;on=;a..horizontally disposed length 23ofsaiportion integral- "ly interconnecting two diverging lengths 12'4sand 25 forming the leg 2 I.

The upper' entis of the lengths-25 and 25 are respectively formedtoihave oppositely turned .pins 26 :andJZl r'rockably lextending throughthe reenforcing members lIlLa'nd 2! from therear si'dehof the tableitorsome such position asis indicatedi'iniifi igfi. When in thatoutwardlysw-ung:positionthe frontdf ithe table l 0 will be-in thedesiredlinclined position.

A plurality of -slots '30 are provided inregularly spaced apartpositions along the 'forward portion of the 'top fiange 1 5, the forwardends of these slots 36 beingcontinued around into the table 10, Fig. 3.The lower flange H islikewise provided with va iplurality of iS10tSfi3l,ithe upper portions of these fislots 'being continued around and throughthe/slower end :jlportionuof the table 10. The slots 30 and 31areiin-vertical alignment one with the other .'.across the table it. Inthe present showing, .there are thirty-one of these top and bottom slots.30 and.3l.

A shaft'32 is mounted to extend'longitudinal- 1y across the underside ofthe table I to fit within the bend 33 between the table It! and theupper flange l5. This shaft 32 is rockably maintained in that bend bymeans of the clips 34 and 35, Fig. 2. The shaft 32 is freely revolublein respect to these holding clips 34 and 35, but a central clip 36 bearsagainst the underside of the shaft 32 in a yielding manner so as toapply pressure against the shaft 32 in order to hold the shaft 32 in anyrevolved position. In the present showing, this clip 36 is held againstthe underside of the shaft 32 in a yielding manner by means of a spring31 mounted upon a bolt 39 which is passed downwardly through the flangel to be held thereby, and through the clip 36 to extend through thespring 31 and have a nut 39 screw-threadedly engaged on its lower end asa means of compressing the spring 31 against the underside of the clip36. The clip 36 bears by its forward end portion around the shaft 32,and by a rear foot 40 against the underside of the flange IS.

The shaft 32 is provided with a plurality of pins 4| each rigidly fixedto the shaft 32 to extend through a slot 30. In other words, withthirty-one of the slots 39, there being a pin 4| for each slot, therewill be thirty-one pins 4|. On each end of the shaft 32 there is fixed aknurled head 42 and 43 respectively as a device for revolving the shaft32 at will within the limits of the pins 4| striking the ends of theslots 3|).

A lower shaft 44 is mounted to be revoluble within the bend 45 betweenthe table It and the flange The shaft 44 is freely revoluble betweenthat bend 45 and the holding clips 46 and 41 mounted at respective endportions of the table It! back of the flange The upper ends of theseclips 46 and 41 are each provided with the feet 48 and 49 curved aroundto fit the contour of the shaft 44. Flat feet 50 and 5| respectivelybear against the back side the flange ii and are fixed thereto by meansof screws 52. In order to retain the shaft 44 in the desired rockedposition, some frictional holding means is provided. In the form hereinshown, this frictional means consists of a clip 53 having a rounded foot54 bearing against the back side of the shaft 44, and has a foot 55 tobear against the flange II to hold the clip 53 in general in spacedrelation behind the flange A bolt 56 passes rearwardly through theflange loosely through the clip 53, to extend through a spring 51, andreceive a nut 58 screw-threadedly on its rear end as a means foradjustably compressing the spring 51 between that nut 58 and the clip 53to rock the end foot 54 against the shaft 44 to apply the frictionalpressure as may be desired.

The shaft 44 is provided with a plurality of pins 59, one pin 59 foreach slot 3|. These pins 59 are fixed to shaft 44 in a rigid manner andex-- tend through those slots in each instance as indicated in Fig. 3particularly.

Referring to Fig. 8, a member 60 is illustrated, and may be made out ofany suitable material such as paper or cardboard, and will hereinafterbe referred to as a tape by reason of its elongated nature. Theessential characteristics of this tape 60 are that it has at its upperand lower ends the respective holes 6| and 62 therethrough.

The tape 60 carries on its front face a plurality of transverse lines,one line for each question of the examination. For example, as in--dicated in Fig. 8, there would be a total number of questions in thepermissible examination for which this tape is made of twenty-fivequestions. Of course less questions may be used in the examination. Eachline from one through twentyfive is intended to be used, on which linethe answer to the specific question of the examination is to be entered.On the lower part of the tape, there are provided two tables, one tablefor the grades involved in answering twenty-five questions, and theother table, the right-hand table, showing the grades involved inanswering twenty questions. These tables are provided for quickreference in order to prevent having to calculate the total grade.Further, the tape 60 has at regularly spaced apart intervals, hereinshown as two lines apart, a color area involving the space allotted tothe next adjacent two lines. For example, lines one and two are left inthe natural color of the tape, whereas lines three and four have acolored background. This system is carried down throughout the tape forthe various lines therebelow.

A modified form of tape 63, Fig. 9, is illustrated wherein the tape iswider than the tape 60 to permit longer answers, and also to permit theexamination having up to fifty questions. In this tape 63, the upperportion thereof has three holes 64, 65, and 66 therethrough adjacent theupper marginal edge portion, and then the lower portion of the tape 63has three holes 61, 66, and 69 therethrough adjacent the lower endportion.

The holes 64 and 66 are spaced apart to have their centers spaced thedistance between the centers of the upper pins 4|. The central hole 65is centered between those outer holes 64 and 66. Its center is on thecommon horizontal center line through those outer holes. The outer lowerholes 61 and 69 are spaced to be centered on the adjacent pins 59, andthe central hole 66 is spaced equidistant between the holes 6! and 69 tobe on the horizontal center line through those two outer holes 61 and69.

Referring to Fig. 1, the table I6 is illustrated as carrying a few ofthe tapes 60, the indicia appearing on the tape 69 in Fig. 8 beingpurposely omitted to avoid confusion. As indicated in Fig. 1, the tape69 has the pin 4| passing through the upper hole 6| of the tape, toallow the tape 6!! to hang downwardly over the face of the table H]. Thewidth of these various tapes 68 are made to be such that when they areso suspended from the upper pins 4|, they may lay side by side withoutoverlapping. When the tapes 60 are placed on the table it, the pins 4|are carried by rocking the shaft 32 to the upwardly directed positionsas indicated in Figs. 1 and 4-6. By having the pins 4| inclined upwardlyfrom the horizontal, the tape 66 are held and are easily removed fromthe pins without physically lifting the tapes Hi.

When all of the tapes 66 have been hung from the upper pins 4|, and thelower pins 59 have been previously rocked to some such position asindicated in Fig. 4 to be turned or directed back of the plane of thefront face of the table II), the shaft 44 carrying the pins 59 is thenrevolved through either end knob "It or H fixed thereto so as to rockthe pins 59 around to those positions, approaching the horizontal, asindicated in Fig. 5, to allow the tapes 60 to be lifted to some suchposition as indicated by the dash lines in Fig. 5 to permit the pins 59to enter the lower hole 62, whereupon the tapes will drop back intocontact with the front face of the table In to assume the position asindicated in Fig. 5. The

next step is to revolve the shaft to rock the pins 59 downwardly whileextended through the holes 62 in order to apply tension to the tape 69by stretching it from the upper pin 41 in each instance. The tape thenremains in this tensioned condition while the checking of the varioustapes is made to ascertain the grades to be assigned to each tape.

Upon completing the checking and grading of each tape 60, the lowershaft M is then revolved in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 7 tosubstantially the upper permissible limit of travel of the pins 59within their slots 3|. The upper shaft 32 is then revolved in acounterclockwise direction, Fig. 7, which pulls the tape 60 upwardly torelieve the lower end portion from engagement with the pin 59 in eachinstance as indicated in Fig. '7. In other words rocking the shaft 32lifts the tape 60 so that the lower end of the tape slides off the pin59 and assumes some such position as indicated in Fig. 7, the upperportion of the tape being bowed outwardly from the table [9 in thatdisengaging process. With the tape 69 thus held outwardly from the table10, the operators fingers may be inserted under the tapes 60 one afteranother to lift them from engagement with the upper pins 4!.

In the checking and grading operation, the fact that the tape 50 is ineach instance divided into a two-color arrangement as indicated in Fig.8, it is easy to follow a horizontal line entirely across the board 10,from the corresponding line of one tape 69 to the corresponding lines ofthe next succeeding tapes. The various lines may be marked right orwrong, and then the final grade 1 in accordance with the correctness ofthe answers may be marked on the tape, and the tape returned to theperson who has taken the examination as identified at the lower end ofthe tape above the line marked name.

Where tapes of the design shown in Fig. 9, tape 63, are to be employed,one tape 63, the left-hand one in Fig. 9 may be placed on the table 19by having the central hole 65 receive therethrough the upper pin 4|.Then the next adjacent tape 63, the right-hand tape in Fig. 9 is placedon the table [0 by having the outer holes 64 and 66 receive the next twoadjacent pins 4|. In this manner, tapes 63 may be placed entirely acrossthe table I0 to have their vertical marginal edges in closejuxtaposition. Of course if desirable, the tapes 63 may be spaced onefrom the other by having each succeeding tape hung on a pin 4| passingthrough the central hole 65 only. The lower holes 61, 68, and 69 receivethe lower pins 59 therethrough in the same sequence.

As the drawings indicate, the upper and lower holes through the tapes 68and 63 are in each instance made to be sufiiciently large to permit theupper and lower pins 4| and 59 respectively to pass quite freelytherethrough. For example, to illustrate good Working conditions, wherthe pins 41 and 59 are made to be one-eighth of an inch in diameter, thediameters of the holes may range from five-sixteenths to three-eighthsof an inch. The vertical spacing apart of the top and bottom holes ismade to be substantially equal to that distance between the pins M and59 when they are turned to be substantially perpendicular to the frontface of the table It. This distance may vary of course somewhat bychanging the diameters of the holes. The tensioned condition of thetapes 60 as illustrated in Fig. 6, is maintained by reason of thefrictional resistance set up to opposite rotation of the upper and lowershafts 32 and M as above described.

Therefore it is to be seen that I have provided a very simpl structureusable for quick checking of a plurality of examination papers so thatthe grades may be determined quickly in the minimum amount of time, andstill be determined accurately without too much chance of error. Whilethe invention has been described in reference to the grading ofexaminations, it is of course usable in conjunction with the comparisonof data which, for example, is to be checked against a master datasheet. Furthermore, while the elements 68 and 63 have been referred toas tapes, it is intended to include in this term an elongated sheet offlexible material, such as light cardboard or paper, and the exactdesignation of this element is not to be limited in any sense to theimplication that it is of a continuous length, but rather is of adiscrete length made to accommodate itself to the vertical height of thetable it. The elements 60 or 63 could equally as well be referred to astickets or papers or cards.

Therefore I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of theinvention as illustrated and described since variations may be employedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and the inventionbeing limited as only as is required by the limitations imposed by thefollowing claim,

I claim:

A grade examination perforated end tape checking aid comprising a table;a flange ex tending backwardly through a bend from one end of the table;a second flange extending backwardly through a bend from the oppositeend of the table; both of said flange bends having spaced apart slotstherethrough, a slot in one bend longitudinally aligned with a slot inthe second bend; a shaft revolubly mounted back of each of said bends; aplurality of tape receiving pins fixed to said shafts, one pin extendingthrough each of said slots; said slots limiting by their ends the travelof said pins respectively toward said table to approximately uprightpositions in respect to the table top; and the transverse widths of saidslots being less than the diameter of said tape perforations whereinsaid tapes while being stretched by rocking of said pins through saidslots away from said table are withheld from wrapping about said shafts.

LEROY W. SHRODE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 251,169 Bogue Dec. 20, 1881 1,020,295 Lewis et al. Mar. 12,1912 1,192,486 Young July 25, 1916 1,429,436 Kelly Sept. 19, 19221,695,575 Cohen Dec. 18, 1928 1,731,017 Lewis Oct. 8, 1929 1,883,255Unger Oct. 18, 1932 1,884,814 Niemann et al. Oct. 25, 1932 1,979,814Unger Nov. 6, 1934 2,117,812 Meyer May 17, 1938 2,262,278 Godley Nov.11, 1941 2,265,474 Critchfield Dec. 9, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 614,957 Great Britain Dec. 30, 1948

